Arrived five minutes early and went to Paediatric Assessment unit. To be told it’s moved in the ten days since I last visited it. Carry heavy car seat back out into corridor and go back on myself. See that there are indeed small paper signs saying where I am is now Paediatric Investigation unit. Assessment unit is in nearby ward.
Arrive on time at new location, wait to be buzzed in. Despite health visitor making appt on phone we are not on any appointment lists. So now I’m sitting in the empty schoolroom as is only place we can be apart from possibly infectious children while a nurse tries to work out what to do with us and I try to ignore the sound of screaming children.
It’s now 16.35. Wonder how long we’ll be waiting. Wish I’d brought food and drink for me.
17.00. Tigerboy has been stripped and weighed, had a urine bag attached, which he filled immediately, and we’re back in the schoolroom feeding, along with another mother also here for jaundice investigation. Her baby is only a few days old though. Quite nice chat about benefits of breastfeeding. And now we’re waiting again.
18.30 still no sign of a doctor. Other family has been moved to a cubicle. Have at least been given some food, as I’m a feeding mother. It was quite nice actually.
I can’t quite believe how they’ve been talking to the other parents actually. And in front of me, as if I’m not here. Bizarre.
19.20. Still no sign of a doctor. Only positive out of all this is I’ve finished my craft swap item. If I can find the first bit I did. And the finishing off bits I need. Am getting a bit stressed by the waiting and the lack of any input. Gah.
20.10. Bloods finally taken. Will take about an hour to be processed. How I didn’t scream as loud as him I don’t know. Listening to discussion at the desk it seems a few ppl have been here hours and not seen. Don’t know what’s going on. Also this unit closes at 9pm so don’t know what they’re planning on doing with us then.
And the answer is move us to a ward. At around 9 I was taken through and put in a single cot room with another family. I was offered toast and more water. Twenty minutes later the Dr came and took me and tigerboy to another room where she took a history and examined him, and apologised for the delays. Now she’s gone to chase up blood results, but she’s talking about how jaundice should have stopped by now, and possibly giving up breastfeeding to see if that resolves it. And we’ve to come back in two days time to go through all this again.
It’s 21.55. I’m shattered. I just want to be at home in bed. I’m hoping my car hadn’t been clamped and wishing t’internet worked in here so I could post this.
22.22. Going home.
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